Good morning, Lord. Why is it that I’m more zealous about my to-do list than I am for You? My priorities are out of order, I know. Tune my ears to hear Your Word, tune my heart to sense Your presence, tune my lips to sing Your praise. Be above all, over all and within all I think and do, in Jesus’ name.
The zeal of the Lord has accomplished much for me. What has my zeal accomplished for Him?
Romans 12:11 (NIV)
Never be lacking in zeal,
but keep your spiritual fervor,
serving the Lord.
Lacking in zeal, me?
You bet. I’m too tired, I say. I don’t have time. I don’t want to rock the boat.
Father, forgive my flagging zeal. Fire up my fervor–especially during this Christmas season.
Good morning, Lord. Here I am, with bleary eyes and bedhead hair, dreading the start of the workweek. Here You are, eternal and powerful, zealous with love for Your children. Forgive my reluctance to get out of bed and get going. Fill my heart with hope, fill my mind with Your Word, fill my body with energy to do Your will.
Isaiah’s prophecy tells how God will establish His kingdom. The section we often hear during Advent ends with these words:
Isaiah 11:7 (NIV)
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
Zeal, qinah in Hebrew, means ardor or jealousy.
Our God’s “divine jealousy” will establish His kingdom. He wants His people with Him for eternity. He doesn’t want to share us with anyone or anything else.
God is jealous … for me. Imagine that!
Good morning, Lord. You know my Christmas to-do list: presents to buy, cookies to bake, a tree in need of decorating, celebrations to plan. Deliver me from the temptation to give any of these a higher priority than time with You. You are the reason we celebrate–focus my mind and heart on You, and You alone.
God had harsh words for some Old Testament celebrations.
Amos 5:21, 23-24 (NIV)
“I hate, I despise your religious festivals;
your assemblies are a stench to me …
Away with the noise of your songs!
I will not listen to the music of your harps.
But let justice roll on like a river,
righteousness like a never-failing stream!”
I wonder how He feels about our Christmas activities.
Lord God, flood my Christmas celebrations with justice and righteousness. Fill me with love–love for You, love for my neighbor. May my words and actions be acceptable in Your sight.
Good morning, Lord. Alas, our world is broken. People (and nations) serve themselves, with no concern for those they hurt. Justice is distorted by money and power. Truth is spun, twisted and turned inside out. Save us from ourselves.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus! (Revelation 22:20). Come and establish Your kingdom with justice and righteousness (Isaiah 9:7).
Prayer — on the vertical and the horizontal.
Our Father in heaven,
forgive me my unrighteousness as
I forgive injustices from others.
